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In case you missed the winners at Blade Show 2014, here is the breakdown:

Publisher’s Award: Mark Zalesky
Industry Achievement Award: Aldo and Edda Lorenzi
2014 Accessory of the Year: SOG Blade Light Sheath
2014 Kitchen Knife Of The Year®: Kai USA Shun Dual Core
2014 Investor/Collector Knife Of The Year®: Pro-Tech Ultimate Godson 2014
2014 Collaboration Knife Of The Year®: Spartan Blades/Les George
2014 Best Buy Knife Of The Year®: Kershaw/Emerson CQC
2014 Manufacturing Quality Award: Lion Steel
2014 Hall of Fame Inductee: Goldie Russell
2014 Most Innovative Imported Knife Of The Year®: Klecker Knives Tri-Klax
2014 Most Innovative American Knife Of The Year®: Spartan Blades Integral Frame Slipjoint
2014 Imported Knife Of The Year®: Spyderco Rubicon
2014 American Made Knife Of The Year®: Zero Tolerance 0562CF
2014 People’s Choice Knife Of The Year®: RAT Worx MRX
2014 Overall Knife Of The Year®: CRKT/Ken Onion Hi Jinx

I saw many fans drooling over the glass cases containing the entries for the award categories.  Uh…me, too.  It must have been tough to judge because the shelves were jam-packed with excellent blades and accessories.

by Wilson

A new mid-year release from the Columbia River Knife and Tool company is the Hi Jinx, designed by Ken Onion.  This is a limited production run of 525 number pieces.  It is made in Magiano, Italy and features a Bohler Uddeholm stainless steel blade with a titanium framelock.

The blade length is 3.32″.  It has a nice high flat grind.  I love the industrial feel of titanium handles–they are almost warm to the touch.  Hi Jinx is an extremely smooth flipper with its IKBS bearing system.  The overall fit and finish befit a collectors’ knife with an MSRP of $500.00.

I enjoyed the ease of the flipper and the bang! of the lock as it engaged.  Since CRKT is known more for its cost conscious offerings, seeing a top flight knife such as this in their lineup is a nice change.  Watch the video below for Mr. Onion’s great take on the Hi Jinx and his tongue in cheek humor at the end. Continue reading →

After a lively seven and a half hours in the car, I finally pulled into the Cobb Galleria Center for Blade Show 2014.  I collected my Media Pass, which allows for an early entry into the venue with the VIP attendees, and began my reconnoiter.

It is exciting to be among people who share the passion for a common interest. Blade Show is a place where you can talk to a production wizard such as Spyderco’s Eric Glesser, then walk twenty yards and converse with upstart designer Andy Buerk of fledgling Guardian Tactical (article forthcoming).

You would be hard pressed to decide which man had more pride in their products.  It is unmistakable, the gleam in their eyes and the enthusiasm with which they speak.  For a knife lover, it is a magical place.

Continue reading →

BLADE Show is in its 33rd year!  In one month, knife enthusiasts and industry professionals will meet at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta, GA, for the largest knife show in the world.  Over 900 exhibitors are registered for booths or tables at the event.

I will be in attendance again this year and hope you bring you some of the highlights of the show and anything new that catches my eye.

The tables are packed with edged goodness and nearly any famous living knifemaker you can name will be there.  I highly recommend you make the pilgrimage at least once in your life to this show of shows.  I am pretty stoked to be going!

Below is a list of the events and the seminar schedule. Continue reading →